]]>By: misterj167http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505536
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:13:14 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505536If we had more players like Bryce Harper, we’d have less players like Bryce Harper.
]]>By: nolanwifflehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505459
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:01:17 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505459Excellent idea…..your problems are over. At least that’s what I’m seeing at the moment.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505439
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:48:08 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505439I seriously doubt the Nationals are playing through injuries more than any other team….people are just flailing about trying to explain reasons for their disappointing season to date. There are many reasons, but I doubt that an unusual bent toward machismo is one of them. Every team does this, they always have…most of the time, a player doesn’t require outside influence, they all want to play.
]]>By: xmatt0926xhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505423
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:35:06 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505423Is it really surprising to anyone that a bunch of young guys would attempt to play through injuries and end up hurting themselves more? If a guy goes out with every injury a pro player will inevitably get then you’d start hearing whispers about his toughness and willingness to play through pain to help the team. How many times did Chipper Jones get on a teammate through the media because he wanted them to play through pain? I don’t blame these players one bit. It’s not being macho. It’s really just what’s expected of them, right or wrong.
]]>By: brewcrewfan54http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505408
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:17:53 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505408Excellent. I’ll go tell my boss to lick my ass right now.
]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505399
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:12:35 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505399Rowr! ;)
]]>By: paperlionshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505397
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:11:50 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505397…and macho.
]]>By: natsladyhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505389
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:04:27 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505389Sorry, that was quite a run-on sentence there. I am ashamed of myself. SMH.
]]>By: natsladyhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505388
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:02:41 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505388Mets have a lot of injuries, pitchers especially. Too macho? How about the Jays? Lotta injuries–too macho? Fish, anyone? Complete LACK of machismo ’cause they are babying Giancarlo, right?

I read that article, he is really grasping at straws. He didn’t like the way Morse was handled? Hey, M’s are doing EXACTLY the same with Mikey (keeping him off the DL, hoping he can play). Guys punch each other in the ribs on Davey’s previous team, and that’s evidence the Nats are too macho? GIve me a break! I understand Boz is frustrated because the Nats aren’t 37-20, but jeez, get a grip on your nerves and tough it out.

The Espinosa situation is a tough nut. We don’t really have a backup SS in case Desi gets hurt; I say, just think of Danny as Izturis and leave him alone. The doctors told him (a) he could play with the shoulder by building it up in the off-season and (b) the chip in his wrist wouldn’t get any worse. Show me a player who says, “No, doc, you’re wrong, I wanna have my body sliced up.” If Danny were hitting no one would care, but he’s always had holes in his (offensive) game and now they are showing big time, but if everyone else was healthy you could easily carry a glove-only middle infielder, lots of teams do.

Rizzo & co. are rushing to teach Anthony Rendon 2B (Rendon of the ankle injuries) and get him up by maybe July. This is a departure from what was planned for a star prospect, and it worries me.

For Nats fans, here is the list of Nats and Mets injuries, plus current stats. We have WAY WAY WAY too many at-bats by guys who should be on the bench as pinch hitters and defensive replacements.

]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505387
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:02:29 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505387BTW, MVP Miggy played with a sore back in May. That is grrrrrrrit!
]]>By: nolanwifflehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505385
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:59:31 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-5053854, 19, 34, 42, 44, 82.
]]>By: DelawarePhilliesFanhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505379
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:52:23 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505379That deserves 1,000 thumbs up! And to all you idiots who thumbs downed it (and clearly are under 45), google it. CLASSIC skit!
]]>By: paperlionshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505376
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:49:48 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505376I can’t help but think there is some degree of confirmation bias in these types of observations and conclusions, and by “some degree”, I mean “a lot”. The only time you ever hear about these types of dings is when they have obvious manifest effects. There are guys playing through a bunch of minor injuries all the time that we don’t hear about because playing through such things often isn’t a big deal….which is why players always try to do it and why teams support those decisions if further risk of injury isn’t an issue.

Every off-season there are scores of stories about “unexpected” minor procedures on players because their condition wasn’t made public and they played through the season with it.

]]>By: Walkhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505369
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:42:24 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505369As long as the players are notifying medical staff and trainers of injuries the players are doing their job. It seems like they is a disconnect somewhere though. Whether it is on players, medical staff/trainers, coaches, manager, or even the front office is something that remains to be seen. My opinion only but it seems like a major league starter at 75% health is often as good as his back up if not better so I do understand them wanting to play when wins are tough to come by right now. The nats bench is a bit weaker than most contenders as well. This may be leading to injured players staying in the line up which creates a more serious injury from a minor one.
]]>By: ezthinkinghttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505359
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:31:07 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505359Quien mas macho, Mike Rizzo o Ricardo Maltroban? Mas macho, Rizzo o Maltroban?
]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505350
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:21:43 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505350Somebody has to do it:

]]>By: nategearharthttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505344
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:16:23 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505344Craig, “macho” wasn’t officially retired until just two years ago, with the passing of the Legend.
]]>By: rocketsteadmanhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505342
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:14:52 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505342Haha, no prob. Bill more than made up for it with his Sofia Vergara v Olivia Munn comment.
]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505341
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:12:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505341Sorry. Didn’t mean to be a Debbie Downer there. As you were.
]]>By: rocketsteadmanhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505339
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:11:29 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505339You just ruined it for me. But I guess with all the changes nowadays, we need to consider Moobs.
]]>By: MyNameIsWilliamBillForShorthttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505334
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:05:19 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505334I’ll take Sofia Vergara vs Olivia Munn. I believe Sofia would be a -140 favorite to win in 6.
]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505332
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:04:47 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505332What if it’s moobs?
]]>By: rocketsteadmanhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505325
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:59:44 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505325You had me at World Series of Bust!
]]>By: brewcrewfan54http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505322
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:57:51 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505322You have the lottery numbers also? I could use those.
]]>By: nolanwifflehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505307
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:47:00 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505307First we ridicule the modern-day athlete for being coddled and pampered…..injuring obliques while combing their hair, and unable to play everyday.

Then, they attempt to play through injuries that they deem minor……and they get grief.

They’re not playing well right now. But they will be soon. I’m sensing a 12 and 2 run in their very near future.

]]>By: bisonaudithttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/04/the-nationals-are-too-macho-for-their-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-505305
Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:44:23 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=467089#comment-505305Their situation at 2nd base is a little more than being macho about dings. They knew Espinoza’s shoulder was a mess already this winter and they chose not to have it fixed and let him play with it.

Johnson voiced the words “World Series or bust.” Wherever that attitude is coming from, it’s killing this team. Baseball just doesn’t work that way.